Today's Supply Chain Pulse
Shipowners stay cautious despite US‑Iran Hormuz reopening deal
President Trump announced a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ending the naval blockade that had closed the oil conduit since late February. Shipowners, however, remain wary, pointing to 57 recorded security incidents and lingering mines, and are opting for lower‑risk routes until safety can be assured.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GIA acquires 30% stake in De Beers' Tracr blockchain platform
Jinko, LONGi, Tongwei and Aiko Secure Solar Module Orders Exceeding 4.6GW in March
Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers JinkoSolar, LONGi Green, Tongwei and Aiko booked more than 4.67 GW of overseas module orders in March. Europe accounted for 51.1 % of the volume, Australia 42.5 %, with the remainder split across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. JinkoSolar led with 2.37 GW, highlighted by a 2 GW TOPCon supply deal to Australia’s Blue Sun Group, while LONGi added 2 GW framework and additional 600 MW in Europe. The wave of gigawatt‑scale contracts signals a shift toward integrated, full‑service renewable solutions from China’s top manufacturers.
FedEx Hails Most Profitable Peak Season Ever Amid Network 2.0 Shift
FedEx reported its most profitable holiday peak season as it accelerated the rollout of Network 2.0, with about 35% of eligible shipments now processed through nearly 400 optimized facilities. The carrier improved on‑time delivery to 95.3% in December 2025 and saw...
TCS and Swissport Extend Strategic Partnership to Accelerate AI-Led Transformation
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Swissport have renewed their decade‑long partnership, extending it for another five years. The new agreement emphasizes AI‑enabled services, hybrid cloud, and data platforms to modernize Swissport’s global ground‑handling operations. TCS will drive operational resilience, faster...
What the El Paso Airspace Shutdown Reveals About Aviation’s GPS Vulnerability
The El Paso airspace shutdown earlier this year was triggered by a counter‑drone operation that employed GPS‑jamming technology. The incident exposed how national‑security measures can unintentionally disrupt the satellite‑navigation systems that modern cargo aviation depends on for routing, fuel‑efficiency and timing....
Kuka Expands KR Cybertech Range with New Mid-Payload Robots and Controller
Kuka has added two mid‑payload robots to its KR Cybertech line, offering 25 kg and 35 kg capacities while keeping the same compact footprint. The models feature a redesigned IP67‑rated wrist for higher rigidity and precision, and both are AI‑ready and ISO 10218:2025 compliant....
.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Chick-Fil-A Is Opening a Distribution Center in Texas
Chick‑fil‑A will break ground on a $50 million distribution and warehouse facility in Lubbock, Texas, slated for May. The site, positioned near Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, will store and ship food and related products to the chain’s restaurants across the region....
‘Physical AI’ Is Transforming Warehouse Operations Beyond Traditional Visibility
Physical AI equips drones, forklifts and other moving assets with cameras and computer‑vision models to continuously digitize warehouse inventory, eliminating manual barcode scans. The approach is hardware‑agnostic, leveraging off‑the‑shelf equipment to keep capital costs low and enable deployment in extreme...
Oil Tanker Market’s Key Rate Thrown Into Chaos
The Baltic Exchange’s TD3 tanker rate, which benchmarks Middle‑East‑to‑China freight, was forced to continue referencing Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port despite the Strait of Hormuz being effectively closed. With almost no actual voyages, shipbrokers were left to price a hypothetical risk,...
Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring: From Sensors in the Track to Decisions in the Control Room
Rail operators are adopting intelligent infrastructure monitoring to capture real‑time condition data from turnouts, ballast and other critical assets. voestalpine Railway Systems’ zentrak portfolio demonstrates a modular, multi‑sensor architecture that feeds raw signals into advanced analytics, including hybrid physics‑based and...
1 in 85: The Cocaine-Positive Truck Driver Turned Pretend SAP Cleared 1,000 Drug Violations
A North Carolina truck driver, Brandon Blackburn, posed as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and fraudulently cleared roughly 1,000 CDL drivers with drug violations in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. He charged $100‑$350 per driver via Zelle and Facebook...
Carriers Back Truckstop Consolidation to Boost Fuel Margins
Little secret: The large truckload carriers love a consolidated truckstop industry. When Pilot and Flying J were contemplating a merger, the DOJ reached out to the largest carriers and asked their opinion. They were generally supportive. They wanted consolidation in retail fuel. Why? Less...
Tesla (TSLA) Reportedly in Talks to Buy $2.9B in Chinese Solar Equipment for 100 GW US Push
Tesla is negotiating a $2.9 billion purchase of solar‑manufacturing equipment from Chinese suppliers to support its goal of building 100 GW of solar capacity in the United States. The deal centers on Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, with shipments expected to arrive in Texas...
Swire Coca-Cola Wins HK$32 Million Government Deal After Bottled Water Scandal
Swire Coca‑Cola has been awarded a HK$31.9 million, 27‑month contract to supply more than 1.46 million bottles of Bonaqua water to Hong Kong government offices. The deal follows a HK$52.9 million bottled‑water procurement scandal that saw a mainland supplier terminated for fraud. The tender...
China’s Rare Earth Magnet Exports to the US Keep Falling as Europe Gains
China’s shipments of rare‑earth permanent magnets to the United States fell 22.5% year‑on‑year in January‑February 2026, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. The US now accounts for just 9.2% of China’s magnet exports, slipping to the third‑largest buyer behind...
Daimler Truck to Deliver First MCS-Enabled eActros 600 Units Soon
Mercedes‑Benz Trucks will begin customer trials of megawatt‑charging‑system (MCS) enabled eActros 600 trucks in the second half of 2024, deploying them in its own inbound‑logistics operations. The eActros 600, produced since November 2024, is the sole model in the lineup with an...
Hurdles in Persian Gulf Test Carriers Moving Stranded Asian Cargo From India
Container lines are scrambling to move 40,000‑50,000 TEUs that have been temporarily stored at Indian ports toward the Middle East. Nhava Sheva alone has discharged roughly 25,000 TEUs, creating a bottleneck as carriers seek shuttle capacity at Gulf gateways. Alternative...
LPG-Dependent Operations Halted at IFGL Refractories’ Kandla Plant in Gujarat
IFGL Refractories Ltd. has temporarily halted LPG‑dependent operations at its Kandla plant in Gujarat after the Indian government ordered oil‑marketing companies to prioritize domestic LPG supplies amid a Middle‑East conflict‑driven shortage. The stoppage affects high‑temperature kiln and heat‑treatment processes, but...
FedEx Refunds Tariffs as Small Businesses Grapple with Rising Costs
FedEx announced it will refund duties to all customers after the Supreme Court struck down key Trump-era tariffs, joining more than 2,200 U.S. companies in lawsuits for refunds. At the same time, small wholesalers and service providers in Minneapolis, Atlanta...
Southern California Tender Rejections Hit 2022 Highs, Signaling Bullish Outlook
Tender rejection rates out of Southern California have surpassed 2022 levels, the start of the Great Freight Recession. This is extremely bullish because volumes are at their softest levels out of LA we will see all year, as S Cal...
Panic Buying Leaves over 100 NSW Diesel Stations Empty
"At least 107 fuel stations across the state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia have run out of diesel as panic buying has outstripped supply, premier Chris Minns said today." https://t.co/zXWc5xVLPK
India Steps up Regional Energy Diplomacy, Supplies Bangladesh with Diesel
India will deliver 45,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh by April, with 5,000 tonnes already shipped via the 131.5‑km India‑Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. The move comes as global fuel prices surge amid the Iran‑Israel conflict and reflects New Delhi’s self‑styled role...
Low Stock Levels Threaten US Reserve Capacity Integrity
Here is something I had not realized. Functionally, the US' strategic petroleum reserve may have less capacity than the stated figures. Should stocks fall below a certain threshold, it could damage the structural integrity of the actual storage facility. https://t.co/AIeGeWdXWV...
Class 8 Truck Orders Surge 157% Year‑over‑Year
Fleets are starting to feel a little feisty... Class 8 truck sales coming in STRONG (157%+ YoY)
Bosch Presents Electric Powertrain for Heavy-Duty Trucks and Off-Highway Machiner
Bosch Engineering unveiled an 800‑volt electric powertrain at LogiMAT 2026, targeting heavy‑duty intralogistics equipment such as forklifts, truck tractors and port transporters. The SMG230 motor delivers 188 kW continuous power and up to 550 Nm peak torque, while a silicon‑carbide inverter pushes...
Trim Inventory, Adopt JIT to Boost Sale Value
“If you plan to sell in the next few years... identify excess inventory and use it up. Go to a just-in-time system if possible. Remember, we want to maximize profits while minimizing the required capital. This makes your business look...
AI and Geopolitics Reshape Global Supply Chain
Above the Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (March 20, 2026) - https://t.co/6N5W6UvR9N @FedEx @amazon @DescartesSG #AI #supplychain #logistics #transportation #IranWar #Trumptariffs #trucking
The Non-Domiciled CDL Crackdown Is Law. Fleets Have 4 Problems.
On March 6 California revoked 13,000 CDLs and on March 16 the FMCSA enacted a rule limiting CDL eligibility to H‑2A, H‑2B and E‑2 visas, stripping DACA, asylum and refugee holders of eligibility. Up to 200,000 drivers—about five percent of the U.S....
Section 301 Probe Relies on Flawed Economics to Push New Tariffs
Good summary of how the new US Section 301 investigation of "structural excess capacity" is based on shoddy economics and clearly just rigged to get to new tariffs: https://t.co/vW75C0H5Y9 https://t.co/vLsCLihqxd
Speculation:
are we gunna get a @DavidSacks tweet about Super Micro smuggling billions of chips to China? https://t.co/TgZEv5DUed
NTSB Issues ‘Rail Propulsion Power Systems’ Safety Alert
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a safety alert highlighting critical failures in electric propulsion power systems across aging U.S. rail networks. Investigators documented electrical arcing, fires and smoke caused by water‑intruded cables, worn third‑rail contacts, and corroded connectors, often...
Freight Rates Surge as Capacity Constraints Hit
We are well past the major weather disruptions to freight - the bears have run out of reasons to avoid rate inflation. The market melt up is real.
Trucking Spot Rates Stay Elevated Amid War, Fuel Worries
Despite concerns about the war and fuel, the clearing price for trucking spot rates (i.e. what a broker must pay to move a load) has remain elevated the entire time. https://t.co/qu4A4SUtFm
Damen Launches Tenth Island Class Ferry for BC Ferries
At Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania, the tenth Island Class ferry for BC Ferries was launched, completing a four‑vessel order and bringing the total to ten vessels in the class. The new ship, Island K ‘asa, adds roughly 200 vehicle...
Building a User‑Friendly Tool Discovery Platform: Vision & Challenges
Learn about the vision, initial steps, and challenges faced in creating a user-friendly platform to easily find the right tools. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/bNZWCzgLQ6 📽️ https://t.co/4w5Ib6cmK1 🔗https://t.co/DmYp21N5Kv #MachineShop #Motool #MachinistTools #ProductivityTools https://t.co/Rg7LoCf7Ko
Oil Futures Signal Long-Term Impact From Iran War
It's not just a blip. Increasingly oil futures markets are suggesting that the Iran war is going to have (or has already had) effects that will last for years. https://t.co/j23M3zH7AL
Air Cargo Backlogs Build as Mid East Disruption Cuts Capacity and Scrambles Networks
Air cargo backlogs are mounting as Middle East airspace closures have stripped roughly 20% of global air‑freight capacity, equivalent to over 500,000 tonnes. Qatar Airways Cargo has resumed limited freighter services under a temporary authorisation, while other regional carriers operate...
Bullish Freight Market Forces Shippers to Accept Higher Rates
The freight market is growing more bullish as we head into one of the busiest parts of the trucking calendar. And we are starting to see the West Coast pull up. Shippers that refuse higher rates risk having trucks not...
IMO Vows to Evacuate Stranded Seafarers From Hormuz
IMO pledges to try to get the seafarers out of Hormuz ▶️Secretary-general to work with Gulf states, shipping industry to evacuate stranded ships ▶️IMO agrees non-binding declaration condemning attacks on merchant vessels ▶️Countries will look to prioritise help for stranded ships, but whatever...
Ukraine Begins Study for High-Speed Rail Link From Kyiv to EU Border with South Korean Funding
Ukraine has launched a feasibility study for a high‑speed rail line linking Kyiv to the EU border, financed by an $8 million grant from South Korea. The study will define technical, economic and strategic parameters and ensure compatibility with the EU’s...
US Pushes to Scrap IMO’s Net Zero Framework
US calls for abandonment of IMO’s NZF Battle lines are being drawn at the IMO as the US lines up to sink the IMO’s Net Zero Framework. https://t.co/KopmdjQtyX
Multiple Disruptions Deepen Global Shipping Crisis
Qatar LNG damage, Yanbu strikes and Hormuz toll threats deepen shipping crisis https://t.co/dzTlspObS5 via @splash_247
Tariff Refunds Still Months Away as Court Presses for Progress
A U.S. Court of International Trade order mandated Customs and Border Protection to refund tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. CBP’s filing on March 19 reveals its new Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system is...
US May Permit Iran Oil Sales to Boost Supply
Bessent: U.S. May Allow Iran to Sell Oil in Order to Increase Supply https://t.co/cJQjJqRa54 #maritime #maritime-news
Saudi Arabia Reacts to Red Sea Terminal Attacks
Saudi Arabia Loses Patience as Red Sea Terminal and Refinery are Targeted https://t.co/h5gLCYvxMc #maritime #maritime-news
West Asia Conflict Drives Surge in Raw Material Costs, Squeezing Textile Units in TN’s Perambalur
Textile manufacturers in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu are grappling with sharply higher raw‑material costs as the West Asia conflict disrupts oil supplies and shipping routes. Polyester fibre prices have risen about Rs 40 per kilogram, while freight rates have jumped 20‑30 %, squeezing profit...
Weekly Reverse Logistics Update: CEVA, DHL, Harrod's Highlights
For those folks into #reverselogistics, the weekly Reverse News is out - https://t.co/8wE4VjmGLh News from CEVA Logistics, DHL Supply Chain, Harrod's and more. 🙂
HMM Jumps Onto Feeder Vessel Commissioning Bonanza
South Korean carrier HMM commissioned ten 2,800‑TEU feeder vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries for $550 million, with delivery slated for late 2028. The company also secured a December 2025 order for twelve additional feeder ships from China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding, comprising five...
5 Tips for More Reliable Shipping Operations
The article outlines five practical steps to make shipping operations more reliable: ensuring order accuracy, standardizing procedures, leveraging third‑party logistics (3PL), maintaining precise inventory records, and setting clear deadlines. Each tip targets common pitfalls such as mis‑picks, inconsistent packing, and...
Amey to Deliver Consultancy Services for Northern Powerhouse Rail Scheme
Amey has secured a multi‑disciplinary railway consultancy contract with Network Rail for the Leeds‑to‑Sheffield segment of the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme. The work, delivered under Network Rail’s Development and Design Partnership Framework, will provide provisional design solutions to increase capacity,...
Government Unveils US $53 Million RELIEF Scheme to Support Exporters Amid Middle East Disruptions
The Indian government launched the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme, allocating Rs 497 crore (US $53 million) to shield exporters from Middle‑East conflict‑driven disruptions. The program, administered by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation, offers extended export obligations, stable insurance premiums,...